Jimi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix at 10:15 a.m. on November 27, 1942, at Seattle's King County Hospital, he was later renamed James Marshall by his father, James "Al" Hendrix. His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old when Hendrix was born and she eventually left the family after having two more children, sons Leon and Joseph. Hendrix would only see his mother sporadically before her death in 1958.
His father took notice of Jimmy's interest in the guitar when he was young, recalling "I used to have Jimmy clean up the bedroom all the time while I was gone, and when I would come home I would find a lot of broom straws around the foot of the bed. I'd say to him, `Well didn't you sweep up the floor?' and he'd say, `Oh yeah,' he did. But I'd find out later that he used to be sitting at the end of the bed there and strumming the broom like he was playing a guitar." Later on his father found an old one-string ukulele, which he gave to Jimmy to play as a huge improvement over the broom. Young Jimmy (as he was referred to at the time) showed an extreme interest in music, drawing influence from virtually every major artist at the time, including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Holly, and Robert Johnson. Entirely self-taught, Jimmy's inability to read music made him concentrate even harder on the music he heard.
He got his first electric guitar at age 15 during the summer of 1958, when his father Al had purchased Jimmy a five-dollar, second-hand acoustic guitar from one of his friends. Shortly thereafter, Jimmy joined his first band, The Velvetones. After a three-month stint with the group, Jimmy left to pursue his own interests. The following summer, Al purchased Jimmy his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560S; Jimi used it when he joined The Rocking Kings. In 1959 Hendrix dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs while continuing his musical aspirations.
In 1961, Jimmy left home to enlist in the United States Army and in November 1962 earned the right to wear the "Screaming Eagles" patch for the paratroop division. While stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Jimmy formed The King Casuals with bassist Billy Cox. After being honorably discharged due to an injury he received during a parachute jump, Jimmy began working as a session guitarist under the name Jimmy James. By the end of 1965, Jimmy had played with several marquee acts, including Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard. Jimmy parted ways with Little Richard to form his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, shedding the role of back-line guitarist for the spotlight of lead guitar.
Chas Chandler, the bass player from a British band The Animals, saw Jimi perform at in July 1966 at Caf‚ Wha?, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York and Chandler was impressed. In September 1966 he had Hendrix sign agreement that would have him move to London to form a new band. Switching gears from bass player to manager, Chandler's first task was to change Hendrix's name to "Jimi." Chandler once in London helped Hendrix join forces with musicians Noel Redding(bassist) and Mitch Mitchell(drummer) to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Although Hendrix experienced overwhelming success in Britain, it wasn't until he returned to America in June 1967 that he ignited the crowd a
t the Monterey International Pop Festival with his performance of "Wild Thing." Literally overnight, The Jimi Hendrix Experience became one of most popular and highest grossing touring acts in the world.
In America, Jimi Hendrix built his own recording studio, Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The name of this project became the basis for his most demanding musical release, a two LP collection, Electric Ladyland. Throughout 1968, the demands of touring and studio work took its toll on the group and in 1969 the Experience disbanded.
The summer of 1969 brought more musical growth to
Jimi Hendrix. When he played in the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in August 1969, Jimi joined forces with an eclectic ensemble called Gypsy Sun & Rainbows featuring Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Juma Sultan, and Jerry Velez. The Woodstock performance was highlighted by the renegade version of "Star Spangled Banner," which brought the mud-soaked audience to a frenzy.
1969 also brought about a new and defining collaboration featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar, bassist Billy Cox and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles. Performing as the Band of Gypsys, this trio launched a series of four New Year's performances on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970. Highlights from these performances were compiled and later released on the quintessential Band of Gypsys album in mid-1970 and the expanded Hendrix: Live At The Fillmore East in 1999.
As 1970 progressed, Jimi brought back drummer Mitch Mitchell to the group and together with Billy Cox on bass, this new trio once again formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the studio, the group recorded several tracks for another two LP set, titled First Rays Of The New Rising Sun. Unfortunately, Hendrix was unable to see this musical vision through to completion due to his hectic worldwide touring schedules, then tragic death on September 18, 1970. Fortunately, the recordings Hendrix slated for release on the al
bum were finally issued through the support of his family and original studio engineer Eddie Kramer on the 1997 release First Rays Of The New Rising Sun.
Hendrix was only 27 when he died because of the mixture of alcohol and sleeping pills. Hendrix completed many projects and lived a life that led him to become a legend being known and loved by America. His accomplishments include influencing rock music for generations to come and having 6 songs on The Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of all Time. He was elected in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the year after was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His father took notice of Jimmy's interest in the guitar when he was young, recalling "I used to have Jimmy clean up the bedroom all the time while I was gone, and when I would come home I would find a lot of broom straws around the foot of the bed. I'd say to him, `Well didn't you sweep up the floor?' and he'd say, `Oh yeah,' he did. But I'd find out later that he used to be sitting at the end of the bed there and strumming the broom like he was playing a guitar." Later on his father found an old one-string ukulele, which he gave to Jimmy to play as a huge improvement over the broom. Young Jimmy (as he was referred to at the time) showed an extreme interest in music, drawing influence from virtually every major artist at the time, including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Holly, and Robert Johnson. Entirely self-taught, Jimmy's inability to read music made him concentrate even harder on the music he heard.
He got his first electric guitar at age 15 during the summer of 1958, when his father Al had purchased Jimmy a five-dollar, second-hand acoustic guitar from one of his friends. Shortly thereafter, Jimmy joined his first band, The Velvetones. After a three-month stint with the group, Jimmy left to pursue his own interests. The following summer, Al purchased Jimmy his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560S; Jimi used it when he joined The Rocking Kings. In 1959 Hendrix dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs while continuing his musical aspirations.
In 1961, Jimmy left home to enlist in the United States Army and in November 1962 earned the right to wear the "Screaming Eagles" patch for the paratroop division. While stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Jimmy formed The King Casuals with bassist Billy Cox. After being honorably discharged due to an injury he received during a parachute jump, Jimmy began working as a session guitarist under the name Jimmy James. By the end of 1965, Jimmy had played with several marquee acts, including Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard. Jimmy parted ways with Little Richard to form his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, shedding the role of back-line guitarist for the spotlight of lead guitar.
Chas Chandler, the bass player from a British band The Animals, saw Jimi perform at in July 1966 at Caf‚ Wha?, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York and Chandler was impressed. In September 1966 he had Hendrix sign agreement that would have him move to London to form a new band. Switching gears from bass player to manager, Chandler's first task was to change Hendrix's name to "Jimi." Chandler once in London helped Hendrix join forces with musicians Noel Redding(bassist) and Mitch Mitchell(drummer) to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience.Although Hendrix experienced overwhelming success in Britain, it wasn't until he returned to America in June 1967 that he ignited the crowd a
t the Monterey International Pop Festival with his performance of "Wild Thing." Literally overnight, The Jimi Hendrix Experience became one of most popular and highest grossing touring acts in the world.
In America, Jimi Hendrix built his own recording studio, Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The name of this project became the basis for his most demanding musical release, a two LP collection, Electric Ladyland. Throughout 1968, the demands of touring and studio work took its toll on the group and in 1969 the Experience disbanded.The summer of 1969 brought more musical growth to
Jimi Hendrix. When he played in the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in August 1969, Jimi joined forces with an eclectic ensemble called Gypsy Sun & Rainbows featuring Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Juma Sultan, and Jerry Velez. The Woodstock performance was highlighted by the renegade version of "Star Spangled Banner," which brought the mud-soaked audience to a frenzy.
1969 also brought about a new and defining collaboration featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar, bassist Billy Cox and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles. Performing as the Band of Gypsys, this trio launched a series of four New Year's performances on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970. Highlights from these performances were compiled and later released on the quintessential Band of Gypsys album in mid-1970 and the expanded Hendrix: Live At The Fillmore East in 1999.
As 1970 progressed, Jimi brought back drummer Mitch Mitchell to the group and together with Billy Cox on bass, this new trio once again formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the studio, the group recorded several tracks for another two LP set, titled First Rays Of The New Rising Sun. Unfortunately, Hendrix was unable to see this musical vision through to completion due to his hectic worldwide touring schedules, then tragic death on September 18, 1970. Fortunately, the recordings Hendrix slated for release on the al
bum were finally issued through the support of his family and original studio engineer Eddie Kramer on the 1997 release First Rays Of The New Rising Sun.
Hendrix was only 27 when he died because of the mixture of alcohol and sleeping pills. Hendrix completed many projects and lived a life that led him to become a legend being known and loved by America. His accomplishments include influencing rock music for generations to come and having 6 songs on The Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of all Time. He was elected in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the year after was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jimi Hendrix Time Line
Citations:
"Jimi Hendrix." 2010. Biography.com. 26 Feb 2010, 11:27 http://www.biography.com/articles/Jimi-Hendrix-9334756.
http://www.jimi-hendrix.com/biography.html